On November 21, Ipas Bolivia and the Bolivian Active Masculinities Networks (RMAB), with the support of the Canadian Embassy, held in Sacaba (Cochabamba – Bolivia) the Fair “Men for Reproductive Justice: Masculinities that Take Care of Themselves“, gathering more than 1,500 people. The activity marked the beginning of the 8th Meeting of the RMAB, held from November 21 to 23 in the same municipality, promoting self-care practices, healthy masculinities, co-responsibility and prevention of violence.
Both activities were held in commemoration of International Men’s Day (November 19), with the participation of the five Bolivian Active Masculinities Networks, present in the departments of La Paz (including the El Alto network), Sucre, Tarija, Potosí (including the Llallagua network), Cochabamba and Cobija. The RMABs are networks of young activists, promoted by Ipas Bolivia for the past five years to strengthen the capacities of adolescents and youth in the promotion of healthy masculinities and the prevention of violence.
The Fair “Men for Reproductive Justice: Masculinities that Care” brought together social organizations, allied institutions, local authorities and youth networks from all over the country in an interactive space that served as a prelude to the meeting. In Sacaba’s main square, information, resources and tools were provided to reflect on the role of men in Sexual and Reproductive Rights (SRR), healthy masculinities, prevention of reproductive injustices and their co-responsibility in the prevention of violence.
The participants visited information stands, talked with young men trained in healthy masculinities and shared experiences on responsible fatherhood, consent, prevention of sexual violence and self-care. The fair also included playful spaces with the games Men at Work and Sexópolis, as well as the projection of short films made by young people from the RMABs, materials that will form part of the Training Manual on Healthy Masculinities and Reproductive Justice, a tool that will be used by the RMABs as a tool for the development of the RMABs’ training manual on healthy masculinities and reproductive justice. to strengthen the work of the networks.
“We are at the Eighth Meeting of the Active Masculinities Networks of Bolivia, an open space that seeks to dialogue with the population and position healthy masculinities through a public fair. With various stands and informative initiatives, we want citizens to broaden their understanding of these masculinities and to move forward from slogans to real changes in favor of reproductive justice.”
During the 8th Meeting of the RMAB, held on November 22 and 23, the young men delved into debates on the traditional mandates of masculinity and the impact they have on emotional ties, emotional health and participation in society. Through participatory methodologies, they expressed from their experiences the importance of building new ways of being men that do not reproduce violence or inequality.
“In the Network we believe it is important that men especially be healthy, understanding the three-dimensionality of being a healthy person: mental health, physical health and emotional health. To build a fairer Bolivia, without gender violence, we need men to know themselves, work on their emotions and act from respect.”
The meeting concluded with a message of renewal and commitment. The Active Masculinities Networks reaffirmed their role as key actors in promoting equality, equity and co-responsibility. For nearly a decade, Ipas Bolivia has promoted and accompanied the consolidation of these networks, promoting spaces of transformation where young men choose to act with empathy, respect and social justice to prevent violence and other problems that affect their communities.
“I like that these spaces foster a new and alternative masculinity, and encourage a more fraternal coexistence in our families, communities, jobs and studies. They also help us to educate others and to share these learnings. That is what motivates me to participate: the dynamics, the accompaniment and, above all, the affection and support felt within the network”.
